How do we move on as a country if Trump is "pardoned" or "not pardoned"?

[kentuck]

Former FBI Director James Comey has said it is something we might want to think about? But, even if a "pardon" was offered, how do we know it would be accepted? After all, how can you be pardoned for something you didn't do? That would be Trump's argument.

If he is not pardoned and is prosecuted at either the state or federal level, Republicans - especially the Trump base - would not accept such an offer or such a prosecution. At this time, it would create even more division and dissension.

That is where we find ourselves at this time in history.

Is this a time where "the wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine"?

Is this a conversation the nation should or should not have? Why?

As it is said in Ecclesiastes, "there is a time for everything..."

I would love to see this question in a poll.

In the final analysis, the nation should come to a conclusion that justice applies to everyone.

[John Ludi]

1. I doubt we will.

I think this may very well be the end of the US as a coherent whole. And if we somehow DO manage to get past this deepening divide, we still have the intractable issues of the climate, the degradation of the biosphere and resource depletion that will only make tribal competition increase as things unwind.

I wish I could put a happy face on things and toss a bunch of techno-utopianism out there, but unless something comes entirely out of left field or that "I'm sure THEY are working on a solution" actually turns out to be true, I think we're hitting the limits to growth pretty damned hard...which I think is the secret core of our dilemma, no matter what the outward manifestations look like.

Hope I'm wrong.

[kentuck]

8. I think that how this is handled will define the direction of our country.

We are at a crossroads.

If we take the wrong direction, the dystopian future may become a reality?

Is it a time for patience or a time for action? Although our hearts beg for action, our heads tell us to be just a little more patient? Which is right?

If we went to the doctor and he said we had a cancer, would we not want it removed as soon as possible?

That is a difficult argument to counter.

[John Ludi]

10. I think we had a chance

to nip this in the bud immediately post-election, but it would have probably been a situation where we bypassed normal procedure and that would have had various legal ramifications that would have been pretty sticky, going forward.

I think it would have been worth it though. Instead we have shown that increasing levels of bad behavior don't get much of a response beyond slaps on the wrist and public shaming of the shameless, who largely don't care.

[Raven123]

2. I think the pardon discussion is based on Nixon

It assumes similarities that don’t exist

We still do not know the extent of the offense
Pardoning Trump is pardoning Trumpism.
The premise that the Trump base should be the barometer for what is best for the country is flawed.
A pardon will not unify, and a prosecution will not further divide. We are already divided. If a crime was committed by Trump, failure to prosecute equals acceptance of the insurrection.

I probably could go on, but I think this is enough

[kentuck]

4. If it was easy to do, it would have already been done.

You are correct that a "failure to prosecute equals acceptance of the insurrection".

That is why the country must be moved to realize that no one is above the law and justice applies to us all, Democrats and Republicans.

Will that ever happen?

It is grinding exceedingly slow.

[CrackityJones75]

3. Wasn't that said like a year ago?

or did he pipe up with this shit again?

[LastDemocratInSC]

5. The right wingers are behaving like John Gotti's supporters in Queens.

They loved Gotti in Queens. He threw big parties with fireworks on July 4th, he looked and sounded like his supporters, they saw themselves in him. They liked having a "strong man" who could solve problems by just talking to the people involved (threatening them in his own special way). They didn't believe all the bad stories about him and even if the stories were eventually found to be true they didn't care about what he had done in the past.

Today's right wingers have the same perspective of and feelings for TFG. even if other people might be punished for Trump-like crimes Trump himself should be spared because he's too special. Holding him accountable would upset the people who love him and they may react badly.

The right wing movement has morphed into a coast-to-coast version of Queens, NYC.

[global1]

6. What Could Be Said About A Person That Would Pardon A Tr**p?.....

In my eyes that person is as treasonous as Tr**p.

[kentuck]

7. Is there any value in discussing it?

If a group of Trumpsters are discussing a "pardon", is that good or bad?

What is their defense?

[global1]

18. I'm Only Reacting To This OP That Suggests That Tr**p Could Be Pardoned......

Someone else started the discussion not me.

How would you feel if a future president gave John Wilkes Booth or Lee Harvey Oswald a pardon?

I'm saying - that to me - is equivalent to whomever would be in a position to give Tr**p a pardon.

Tr**p engineered a coup to take over (maybe end) our government as we know it. There should be no pardon for such an act/for such a person that would be guilty of such a crime. In my eyes that is treason.

So many times the Repugs set the narrative for the Dems.

I think we should set the narrative here.

A president that would pardon Tr**p - to me - is committing an act that would make them just as guilty as Tr**p. I would associate them as being just as treasonous as Tr**p.

So I say we fire the warning shot above the bow of their presidency and let them know NOW - that any pardoning of Tr**p seals their legacy. We will say that they are committing treason and (let's stretch it) - they are worse than Tr**p.

I'm only wanting to suggest that whomever might find themselves in that position to offer a pardon for Tr**p - should think twice before they act. Is that how you want to be remembered? Is that what you want your legacy to be?

If I had my druthers - if Tr**p gets convicted and is hauled away to jail - that a stipulation on his incarceration is that he is never to be eligible for a pardon.

Period. End of discussion. Tr**p is a big boy. You do the crime you serve the time.

[Walleye]

9. Joe Biden says " Hell to the no!"

[TreasonousBastard]

11. Who would pardon him? And even if we found an R president...

who would, that wouldn't get him off of state charges.

Wouldn't save him from a bankrptcy that sticks, either, like in Scotland.

His fun time being President should be an example of the Peter Principle gone amok

[fightforfreedom]

12. If Biden pardoned Trump, the Democrats would never win an election again.

No way it will happen.

[kentuck]

13. It would be a surrender of our democracy as we know it.

And there would be no guarantee that it would ever be retrieved.

[Mr. Ected]

14. Joe Biden has a lot of friends on both sides of the aisle

Trump is an outsider who is universally detested (though he has a stranglehold on a distinct group of rabble rousers).

My guess is that no love would be lost if he was found guilty and sent to prison.

The truth is, we're not the ones who need to heal. The cretins who call themselves MAGA need to see with their own eyes that crime doesn't pay. They need a healthy dose of reality in their life to counter the fake and destructive bullshit they've been inundated with over the years.

[kentuck]

15. Interesting comment.

"The truth is, we're not the ones who need to heal."

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:15–20.)

[The Magistrate]

16. Well Said, Sir

[Chainfire]

17. If Trump escapes justice, based on him being a former President

What does that mean for future presidents who may have criminal intent? If a President is above justice, he is, for all practical purposes, a King. Keep in mind, that Trump wanted to remain in office bad enough to attempt a revolution. If he is allowed to walk away from that kind of seditionist behavior then our Democracy is done. If Trump can not be tried for attempting to destroy Democracy, then what are the actual limits of the power of the President?

If we can not prosecute, and if necessary punish, a President then we have no moral authority to prosecute and punish a pauper.

"With liberty and Justice for all..."

[usonian]

19. It took a lot of thought, but ...

How about exempting him from income tax in exchange for flipping on ALL his comrades?

1. He eventually throws everyone under the bus, the closer they are, the better (for him)

2. He PAYS NO INCOME TAX, ANYWAY. No loss, there, but it makes him feel a "winner".

And make sure to yank his free medical benefits, because THAT'S SOCIALISM.

Enough or does anyone have more?